420 FROXTEXAC ATTACKS THE OXOXDAGAS. [1696-98. 



forest posts should be abandoned and destroyed, 

 that all Frenchmen should be ordered back to the 

 settlements, and that none should return under 

 pain of the galleys. An exception was made in 

 favor of the Jesuits, who were allowed to continue 

 their western missions, subject to restrictions de- 

 signed to prevent them from becoming a cover to 

 illicit fur trade. Frontenac was also directed to 

 make peace with the Iroquois, even, if necessary, 

 without including the western allies of France ; 

 that is, he was authorized by Louis XIV. to pursue 

 the course which had discredited and imperilled 

 the colony under the rule of Denonville. 1 



The intentions of the king did not take effect. 

 The policy of Frontenac was the true one, what- 

 ever motives may have entered into his advocacy 

 of it. In view of the geographical, social, political, 

 and commercial conditions of Canada, the policy of 

 his opponents was impracticable, and nothing less 

 than a perpetual cordon of troops could have pre- 

 vented the Canadians from escaping to the back- 

 woods. In spite of all the evils that attended the 

 forest posts, it would have been a blunder to 

 abandon them. This quickly became apparent. 



1 Memoire du Boy pour Frontenac et Champigny, 26 Mai, 1696 ; Ibid., 

 27 Avril, 1697 ; Registres du Conseil Superieur, Edit du 21 Mai, 1696. 



" Ce qui vous avez mande de l'accommodement des Sauvages allies 

 avec les Irocois n'a pas permis a Sa Majeste d'entrer dans la discution 

 de la maniere de faire rabandormement des postes des Francois dans la 

 profondeur des terres, particulierement a Missilimackinac. . . En tout 

 cas vous ne devez pas manquer de donner ordre pour miner les forts et 

 tous les e'difices qui pourront y avoir este faits." Le Ministre a Fronte- 

 nac, 26 Mai, 1696. 



Besides the above, many other letters and despatches on both sides 

 have been examined in relation to these questions. 



